Govt to kill FMD infected goats and sheep

SHINGIRAI MADONDO
Correspondent | Thursday May 16, 2013 00:00

 

Agriculture Minister Christiaan De Graaff revealed this on Monday when addressing farmers during a leadership and stakeholders' workshop on the FMD situation in the containment zone. According to De Graaff, the number of small stock targeted for depopulation is estimated at 30,000.

Following an outbreak of FMD in Zone 6 in 2011, the government took a decision to eradicate the epidemic by establishing a containment zone and depopulating cattle in the entire zone. A series of FMD surveys in the disease susceptible animals remaining in the zone revealed that small stock (goats and sheep) have also been affected including wild animals such as impalas and kudus. According to the minister, the surveillance further revealed that the disease is restricted to the eastern part of Zone 6.

Following these findings as well as the known insignificant role of the affected animals in the epidemiology of FMD, a deliberate decision was taken to vaccinate small stock with a purified vaccine to clear the disease. De Graaff said the unusual persistence of the disease in the small stock population despite vaccination presents a serious threat of disease spreading and delaying restocking.

'The persistence of the disease unfortunately contradicts the international standards of maintaining the zone as a containment area,' said the minister. In addition to persistence of FMD in small stock, De Graaff said cases of the dangerous disease have also been detected in wildlife in the containment zone and intensive surveillance will also be carried out in susceptible game. 'This is to ensure that   the FMD infection has been cleared from game species,' he said.

Dr Micus Chimbombi, the ministry's permanent secretary (PS) said the depopulation exercise will start immediately. He urged the farming community to cooperate with the staff and not to move animals out of the depopulation area as this will spread the disease to the entire zone therefore risking depopulating all small stock.  

The affected areas are the entire communal area of Matsiloje, Matshelagabedi, Matopi, Patayamatebele, Ditladi and several other farms in the north eastern part of the country.